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Your Take 2: Readers respond to Foxconn deal (again)

Dan Bice answers a viewer’s question on what are the odds that the Foxconn plant will be around long enough to pay back Wisconsin taxpayers.

Two weeks ago, we asked readers what they thought of the multibillion-dollar deal that state negotiators are working on with Taiwan manufacturer Foxconn. This week, we asked readers again, now that more information is in and the Legislature is crafting a bill to make that deal law.

The first response on Facebook, in comments and in letters was a very mixed bag, with many arguing that it's a great deal — "transformational" to use Gov. Scott Walker's description — but many also warning that the state was giving away too much.

Since then, more information has been coming in. A report Tuesday from the Legislature's nonpartisan budget office said "state taxpayers would need an estimated 25 years to recoup up to $2.85 billion in proposed cash payments to bring a Taiwanese firm's flat screen plant to southeastern Wisconsin," the Journal Sentinel reported.

Critics have been warning against not only the fiscal risks but possible environmental threats as well, while supporters keep touting the potential for thousands of jobs, a ripple effect involving startups and suppliers and a serious boost to the state's economy.

But the trend among responses (at least on Facebook) doesn't seem to be going Foxconn's way. This time, those opposed to the deal were outvoting those in support by roughly 2-1.

Here are some examples of what you had to say this week:

Take that $3B, stick it in an interest bearing account and use the return to hire people to, oh, I don't know, clean up highways. You could employ 6,000 people at $25/hr. full time, in perpetuity. And take in $18M or so in taxes from them every year.

Vote no, costs WI millions and no environmental protections.

Lol. Recoup what? The incentives are from taxes we are currently NOT getting. The peripheral business growth and income taxes collected from the workers are a win for the state.

Well, we aren't able to properly finance in-progress infrastructure projects, much less any new ones. The financial incentives would take decades to earn a return. No environmental oversight on a MASSIVE manufacturing complex owned by a company known for creating environmental hazards. Nope, I'm good. I encourage development of all sorts, but I don't like making bad investments. This, my friends, is a bad investment.

How many billions will we need to spend so that Walker can claim he kept his campaign promise to create 250,000 jobs?

Beats unemployment! Would you rather have that or jobs?

One only has to ask themselves this... Would the Koch Brothers make this investment? Would they spend $3B without expecting to see a profit for 25 years? Let's not forget, we still have to borrow to fix the roads to make the investment.

25 years to break even on an investment? I thought the GOP was supposed to be fiscally conservative and have business savvy. How is this a good deal? If you think so, please invest some money with me.

Wisconsin under Doyle was giving money away to unions...now there is an opportunity to bring jobs to Wisconsin and out of nowhere the left is fiscally responsible....this is why we can never have nice things.

Fox CON - Wake up people! This is just another CON. Too many broken deals, one of which was in Pennsylvania. Fox CON has bamboozled several countries around the world. This is a vehicle that will be used to convince many that Walker, Ron Johnson, Paul Ryan and the Orange Haired Wonder should all be re-elected.

I was for it until I read the specifics. What business would invest $3 billion knowing they would not get their investment back for 25 years? That does not include the loss you would take off the interest of the $3 billion. ...Not to mention the liability to any environmental damage we would be on the hook for since we are waiving Foxconn's responsibility.

These people are completely missing the big picture. Just in support services alone, jobs could surpass what Foxconn wants to hire, short term and long term. Delivery transportation, sales of raw material, etc.

Horrible idea...unless we want to end up like Illinois. Stop giving these massive companies these massive tax breaks to bring in these minimum level jobs. It also doesn't help that they will be able to sneak around the environmental regulations in place, which would allow them to dump a massive amount of pollution into our water at no expense to them. I say, no thanks, save the $3 billion and invest it in local business, infrastructure, education and health.

Research Foxconn's history of broken promises, It will NOT employ 13,000 people. It's automating all its older factories and this new one, IF they build it, will be fully automated and require only highly skilled electronic engineers and those with training and experience with robotics. It's a con.

DO IT! Anyone that thinks otherwise does not understand how an economy and job creation works. It will pay off hugely with a boom in economic activity.